Niagara County Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services

As we celebrate #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, we also take a moment to support #AAPIHeritageMonth through the #NYSCelebratesAAPI campaign. This past year, the Ne...w York #AAPI community has experienced an increase in hate crimes, racial discrimination and racist attacks. We invite you to learn more about the mental health impact of racism and how it may affect you, or someone you know.

Mental Health Awareness Show your support. Let's end stigma together by talking about mental health. Join The Conversation.

We're all in this together. Thank you Niagara County Sheriff's Office for recognizing Mental Health Awareness month and providing information on Niagara County Crisis Services along with other resources. Our 24-Hour phone line is available for free, confidential support, guidance, information, referral and intervention when needed. Call (716) 285-3515. There is Help - There is Hope.

We invite you to explore #gender this Spotlight Sunday. This #PRIDE month, commit to learning more about #LGBTQIA issues and experiences. #pridemonth #Spotlight

In this together to better serve our aging population.

It’s #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth!! How can you help support our mission to make mental health conversations mainstream? Share these tips on how to ‘check in’ and respond when someone is struggling.

Sometimes people may not say anything at all to start a conversation or respond to a statement when it's about mental wellness simply because they just don't know what to say. Here's some tips to help you along.

"See your brave today" Photo from FindingJoy

Reminder: #TakeBackDay is tomorrow! Gather your expired, unused, or unwanted medication and drop them off at a designated site between 10am and 2pm on Saturday,... April 24th. Niagara County locations include: The traffic circle at Mt. St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston, and near the entrance of DeGraff Memorial Hospital in North Tonawanda. There is no limit on the amount you may drop off, and no questions asked. Please do not bring loose sharps or unsealed containers of liquid for the protection of all involved See more

Need help? Call Niagara County Crisis Services 24-Hour phone line for free, confidential support, guidance & referral at (716) 285-3515. There is Help - There is Hope. Don't give up.

Just a little reminder can be helpful to re-center ourselves

Do you or someone you know have housing needs? Read important information below and feel free to share!

NCDMH, with the exception of Crisis Services, is closed today in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen normal business hours on Tuesday, June 1st. Remember and honor all of the people who served our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice to give and protect our freedom and liberties. Image credit unknown

Western NYers, please beware!

Please take a minute to answer this brief survey on transportation needs you may have as a Niagara County community member. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCSurvey2021 The NCDMH Community Services Board (CSB) has had a long standing goal on each year's Local Services Plan to improve access to transportation services across Niagara County for individuals within the mental hygiene service system (mental health, alcohol/substance use & developmental disabilities) for both medical and non-medical (e.g. social supports and basic needs) purposes. In collaboration with NC Department of Public Works (DPW), we are happy to bring you this survey. Please share as this is relevant to all individuals throughout the County.

"How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to feel the straps on your shoulders. Now I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office, and then you move into the people that you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your cousins, your aunts, your uncles, your brothers, your sisters, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend or your gir...lfriend. You get them into that backpack Feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. Do you feel the straps cutting into your shoulders? All those negotiations and arguments, and secrets and compromises. You don't need to carry all that weight. Why don't you set that bag down? Lines spoken by Bingham (played by George Clooney) in the 2009 film ‘Up in the Air’ . We all have baggage and baggage is not always bad as it helps to keep our life full and us as people connected to one another. To read more on how to "lighten the load of mental baggage" go to https://www.nbcnews.com//your-emotional-baggage-holding-yo See more

For Mental Health Awareness month, NCDMH Director Laura Kelemen and Crisis Services Program Manager Jodi McKay joined Niagara County Sheriff Filicetti to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Department and the variety of services available to support our communities. Take the 29 minutes to listen to the Sheriff's Update to learn more about us at https://trms.lctv.net/CablecastPublicSite/show/6931

Don't give up. If you need help getting through tough times, we're here for you. Whether you need our 24-hour Crisis Services, Adult outpatient clinic services or Home and Community Based Services, we can help. Give us a call. Our Crisis Services can be reached at (716) 285-3515 for free, confidential information, support, guidance and referral.

To connect to help in Niagara County call our 24-hour Crisis Services at (716) 285-3515. There is Help - There is Hope.

Although school is different right now, it remains critical for educators to recognize suicide warning signs in their students. Call Niagara County Crisis Services 24-Hour phone line for free, confidential support, guidance, and referral at (716) 285-3515. Together we can help save a life and make a positive difference in these distressing times.

Parents and caregivers if you are looking for new ways to spend quality time with your children, practice (and role model) self-care, and destress, the School Mental Health Resource & Training Center is offering a free family mindfulness series at https://www.mentalhealthednys.org/mindfulmoments/ The episodes are as follows: Episodes 1-3: Mindful Awareness... Episode #1: Peaceful Breathing Episode #2: Being Me in My Body Episode #3: Activate My Calm Episodes 4-6: Grounding and the Five Senses Coming the week of December 7! Episodes 7-9: Our Grateful Bodies Coming the week of December 14!

Choose to be courageous. There's no shame in reaching out for help. Take the first step and call us for free, confidential support, guidance, information and / or referral any day, any time at (716) 285-3515. There is Help - There is Hope.

"Fortunately, we know a lot about how to treat anxiety. It responds very well to cognitive behavior therapy, and there are medications that work, too. Getting help makes a big difference, and treatment doesn’t need to be a lifelong thingalthough its positive effects will be."

NCDMH, with the exception of Crisis Services, is closed today November 26th and tomorrow November 27th in observance of Thanksgiving. We will reopen on Monday, November 30th for normal business hours. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at NCDMH.

Concerned about your child possibly using alcohol or drugs? See the flyers below for more information on what to watch for, how to start a conversation and available resources, supports and services. There is Help - There is Hope. Recovery is Possible.